Gas-engine.



Patented May 7, Mil. J. ECKHARD.

G A S E N G l N E.

(Application filed Sept. 1 1, 1899.;

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented May 7, mm. J. ECKHARD.

GAS ENGINE.

. \A nemn filed Sept. 11, 1899.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Q I 50 J3 w 5/ //7/6/?75/} N TED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN EOKHARD, OF BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE EOKHARD MOTOR 00., OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,427, dated May 7, 1901. Application filed September 11, 1899. Serial No. 730,130. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EOKHARD, of

of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to explosive gas-engines, and particularly that type in which the explosive mixture or vapor is formed from a volatile liquid, as gasolene or :5 naphtha and air; and it has for its object to improve the construction and operation of the parts whereby not only is the gas generated in a more economical manner and is capable of regulation, but the liability of a'preto mature explosion is reduced to a minimum; and to these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combination of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View, and Fig. 3 a horizontal sectionalview,thereof. Fig. iisacr0ss-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an end view of the cylinder-head; Fig. 6, a crosssectional view of the generator, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a sectional view on the line 7 70f Fig. 3; Fig. 8, a similar view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3, and Fig.

10 is a detail view of the air-inlet valve.

The engine embodying my improvements 4o embodies the cylinder 1, surrounded by the water-jacket2 and having the piston-head 3, connected by the pitman 4 to the crank-shaft 5, operating in bearings 6. The cylinder is open at its inner end and the pitman and crank on the shaft 5 are inclosed in a casing 7, which is formed with or connected to the cylinder, and the whole is supported upon a suitable base either in an upright or horizontal position, as may be desired. In the present embodiment the cylinder is shown in the horizontal position; but this is not essential to the proper operation of the parts.

The gas employed is generated by vaporizing a liquid-such as gasolene, naphtha, or other similar material-and mixing such vapor with the proper quantity of air for the purpose of obtaining the greatest expansive force when the mixture is ignited. Attached to the casing '7 and communicating therewith is a generator or vaporizer of the usual or any preferred construction and in the present instance embodying a chamber 8, surrounded by the passage 9 and provided with a checkvalve 10, normally closing the air-inlet passage 11 and adapted to be held upon its seat by a spring 12, surrounding the valve-stem 13, the upper end of which is guided in a spider or bearing 14. The flow of liquid to the generator is governed by a hand-operated regulating-valve 15, located in the liquid-sup- 7o ply pipe 16, and the desired quantity of air admitted to the passage 11 is governed by an adjustable cap or valve 17, pivoted to the pipe at the end of the passage. The generator is adapted to be heated to vaporize the gasolene, and for this purpose the passage 9 is connected by the pipe 90 to the exhaustport leading from the cylinder in which the explosion takes place, whereby a portion of the gases will pass around the generator and heat the parts. In order that the quantity of the heated gases and products of combustion from the cylinder and admitted to the passage 9 may be regulated and the vaporizing accomplished in the best manner, I provide a stop cook or valve 91 in the passage 90, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The interior of the casing 7 is connected to the generator, and the vapor as it is generated is drawn into the casing, together with the proper amount of air admitted through the check-valve, by the vacuum created by the outward movement of the piston 3. The inlet port or passage leading from the casing to the cylinder extends along the side of the lat- 95 ter and is adapted to be opened by the piston upon its outward stroke and closed as it is advanced in the cylinder. As the piston returns the gas in the casing is compressed until the inlet-port is opened, when by its expansive 10o in order that the gases and products of combustion may be allowed to escape either in whole or part from the cylinder before the" fresh gas is admitted. To prevent the fresh gas from blowing across the cylinder and escaping through the exhaust-passage and also to direct it upward into the end of the cylin der, I provide a plate or partition 21, arranged on the piston and extending across the face thereof a short distance from the end of the inlet-port.

The inlet port or ports in the cylinder embody a seriesof relatively small apertures 22, as shown in Fig. 4, opening into a chamber 23, and the gas-passage between said chamber and the interior of the casing 7 is restricted at intervals by a series of perforated plates or partitions 24, converging toward the cylinder and forming pockets in rear of their proximate edges, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. In practice I prefer to construct this gas-passage and partitions by forming a large recess or passage between the cylinder-ports and the interior of the casing and to cast or otherwise form the plates or ribs 24 upon a cover-plate 25, which is secured over the recess by bolts or screws 27, thus simplifying and cheapening the construction. This arrangement of the gas-passage effectually prevents the fire of burning gas in the cylinder from passing back into the casing or chamber 7 and exploding the vapor therein. The form of the ribs or plates with the narrow orifices between them and the pockets permits the gas to pass into the cylinder with the minimum amount of friction.

Mounted upon the outer end of the cylinder is the head 30, provided with the extension 31,

forming apocket 32, communicating with the cylinder and containing the igniting device. The pocket 32 is closed by a head or plate 33, electrically insulated by packing 34 and secured by bolts 35. Formed upon the inner side of, the head or plate is an extension or lug 36, grooved upon its upper side and having a movable contact-finger 37 lying therein and loosely secured by a screw 38.

39 indicates a rock-shaft extending through the plate or head and supported at its outer end in a bracket 40 on the latter. The inner end of this shaft is provided with a lug or finger 41, extending over the finger 37, and also at its outer portion with a cross-arm 42, to the ends of which are connected springs 43, also connected to stationary arms or brackets 44 on the plate or head 33. The cross-arm is secured rigidly to the shaft 39 by means of a screw 45, which permits the shaft to be ad- 'being damaged by the explosions.

justed until the finger 41 bears against the upper side of the movable contact-finger 37 with light spring-pressure. In normal position the contact-finger 37 rests upon the lug 36, but is adapted to be raised against the tension of the springs by a cam or wiper forming the other electrical contact and then returned to normal position by the springs. By employing centering-springs operating upon opposite sides of the shaft, as shown, the latter is prevented from binding in its "bearings and will be operated easily and quickly to return the parts to their normal position, and as the springs controlling the contacts are outside the cylinder or combustion-chamber there is no liability of their being damaged by excessive heat or of the parts Mounted in suitable bearings in the cylinder-head is a shaft 45, extending into the pocket 32 and provided with a removable tripfinger 46, secured by a screw 47, adapted as the shaft is revolved to engage with the contact-finger 36 and as the parts are disengaged to form an electric spark by the breaking of the usual circuit (indicated by 47) embodying a battery and spark-coil, the terminals of which are connected to the cylinder-head and to the cap-plate or head 33, respectively, by binding-ports 48 and 49.

60 indicates a baffle-plate located-in the cyl? inder at the edge of the pocket 32 to direct the fresh gas into the latter, thereby insuring a more perfect operation of the igniter and removing the products of combustion therefrom.

The shaft 45 is adapted to be operated to cause the engagement of. the contact-fingers at each rotation, of the driving-shaft, and to accomplish this I provide the sprocket-wheels 50 and 51, mounted upon the respective shafts and connected for simultaneous operation by a driving-chain 52. The sprocket 51 is at tached to the shaft 45 by means of a ratchet connection consisting of a single tooth 53 u pon the said shaft and a spring-operated pin 54, arranged in the hub of the sprocket and engaging therewith, when the latter is rotated in one direction, as shown particularly in Fig. 9.

The arrangement and operation of the contact fingers or points 36 and 46 enable me to construct these members of heavy materials, thereby increasing their durability, and in case of necessity to permit their easy removal and the substitution of new ones.

When the engine is in operation, thevalve 15 governs the quantity of gasolene or naphtha flowing to the generator, and a portion of the products of combustion from the cylinder is admitted to the jacket of the generator to properly vaporize the liquid, the air-supply being regulated also, by which means the operator can form gas or vapor that is most efficient in action. At each outward movement of the piston a fresh quantity of air is drawn into the generator and of vapor into the casing, and at each inward movement,

caused by an explosion, the gas is compressed, so that as soon as the piston passes from over the inlet-port the gas rushes into the cylinder, driving out any of the products of combustion through the exhaust-port, the battleplate on the piston preventing direct passage of fresh 'gas to the exhaust and cooperating with the plate at the side of the pocket containing the contacts to direct the fresh gas into said pocket. As soon as the crank has passed the center and the charge of gas is compressed to the maximum the rotary contact-finger passes oi the end of the finger 36, allowing the spring to snap the latter down and form the spark igniting the charge.

By subdividing the charge of fresh gas as it is admitted to the cylinderI am enabled to more thoroughly mix the hydrocarbon vapors with the air, thereby insuring a higher power explosive, and by forming the walls 60 converging upon their inner ends the passages 22 will enter the cylinder through narrow slits or apertures, which will successfully prevent the fire of burning gas from passing into the ports, causing a' premature dischargeof the fresh gas in the chamber 23 or in the casing 7 when the engine is running either ata high or low rate of speed or when the supply of liquid has been entirely cut off from the generator and the engine is being allowed to gradually come to rest.

Engines constructed in accordance with my invention are simple and compact and, being composed of few parts, are easily operated and repaired when desired.

The particular form of the vaporizer and of the igniter can readily be changed, if desired, and while I prefer those shown I do not claim them herein, as they will form the subjectmatter of divisional applications.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gas-engine the combination with the cylinder having the inlet and exhaust ports controlled by the piston and a gas-reservoir, of a gas-passage leading to the inlet-port from the reservoir having a series of tapering partitions therein with restricted orifices for preventing the passage of flame back to the reservoir, and an igniter located beyond the partitions,in the direction of movement of the incoming charge.

2. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder, a gas-reservoir and a gas-passage between the two containing a series of perforated plates or partitions with pockets between them, and an igniter located beyond the partitions, in the direction of movement of the incoming charge.

3. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder, a gas-reservoir and a gas-passage between the two containing a series of perforated plates or partitions tapering toward the cylinder, and forming pockets between them, and an igniter located beyond the partitions, in the direction of movement of the incoming charge.

4. A gas-engine having a gas-passage leading to the cylinder provided with a plurality of perforated plates or partitions therein tapering toward the cylinder and having pockets between them, and an igniter located beyond the partitions, in the direction of movement of the incoming charge.

5. In a gas-engine the combination with a cylinder having an inlet-port and the gas-passage leading thereto, of a cover-plate for said passage having a series of tapering perforated plates or partitions thereon adapted to extend into the passage and having pockets between them, and an igniter located beyond the partitions, in the direction of movement of the incoming charge.

6. In a gas-engine the combination with the cylinder formed with the casing and having the gas-passage and inlet-port at the side, of the cover-plate for said passage havinga series of tapering perforated plates orpartitions thereon adapted to extend into the passage, a piston operating in the cylinder and casing, and an igniter arranged between the partitions and the exhaust-passage.

7. In a gas-engine the combination with the cylinder having the inlet and outlet ports, and the piston operating therein and cooperating with the ports, of the pocket or recess open upon its inner end communicating with the cylinder, igniting devices in said pocket and the deflector near the end of the pocket extending toward the inlet-port for deflecting a fresh charge of gas into the pocket.

8. In a gas-engine the combination with the cylinder having the inlet and outlet ports,

and the piston operating in the cylinder and cooperating with the ports, of the end plate removable from the cylinder having the recess or pocket therein open upon its inner end ,the deflectorplate secured thereto and igniting devices located in the recess or pocket.

9. In a gas-engine the combination with a cylinder having the inlet and exhaust ports, the piston operatingin the cylinder and adapted to open and close the said ports, of the casing connected to the cylinder having the generator attached thereto provided with the liquid-inlet and the air-inlet passages surrounded by a chamber and connections leading to the latter from the exhaust-port, means for closing the air-inlet passage adapted to be operated upon the forward stroke of the piston to admit a quantity of air into the casing,

and an igniting device arranged within the cylinder.

10. In a gas-engine the combination with a cylinder, the piston operating therein and the casing connected to the cylinder, of an inletpassage connecting the former with the latter having a series of restricted orifices located intermediate its ends, the generator connected to the casing, and an igniting device arranged within the cylinder.

11. In a gas-engine the combination with a cylinder having the inlet and exhaust ports and the piston operating in the cylinder and controlling them, of a gas-inlet passage havits inner end divided into a series of passages and provided with a series of restricted orifices intermediate'the ends, and an igniting device for exploding the gas Within the cylinder.

JOHN EOKHARD.

Witnesses:

G. WILLARD RI H, HENRY W. HALL. 

